SOUTHERN TELEGRAMS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1808, 8 May 1874, Page 3

SOUTHERN TELEGRAMS.

(Per Anglo-Anstralian Telegraph Press Ageney.)

Wellington, Thursday; j Mr Gillon, Editor of the Evening Postj ,was last night .given a testimonial and 'dinner and a purse of sovereigns by the publicans ofThorndon Flat, in recbgni* tion of his . journalistic services.—The.rej ceipts from passenger traffic on the Hutt railway from the 14th. to the 30th of April inclusive, , are.; ;over £300.— 1 Golden Bea' immigrants will be landed .tamprrpw, and the, vessel, admitted to pratique.—The halfway islands at Port Chalmers have been proclaimed a quaran* tine • station.—Mr Patrick Dignan, of ' Auckland has been appointed a J.P., Napieb, Thursday. • Arrived: The s,8 1 Pretty Jane,' from Auckland and Poverty Bay.' ' i . j ' ' . Dukbdin, Thursday. Mr Donald Eeid, Provincial Secretary, made a, statement of the Government's policy, in the Provincial Council to-day. It was intended to' apply to the General Assembly to have a loan raised* by the Colonial Government for the province, to enable the latter to carry out the large branch railway works already undertaken and proposed by the Government. The Government looked upon the deepening of the Otago harbour to bring * up,the largest ships to Duuedin as a truly provincial work, and would assist to the utmost to carry it out. They favoured the appointment, of a harbour trust; for i this purpose,-and while* they wouldfonly recommend, the expenditure of a small' sum at present to give a commencement to the work, they would assist the trust' to raise a loan for, carrying out tho work. The Government would' try to obtain an alteration of the Land Bill, so so' to throw open more than 30,000 acres annually under deferred payment. . These blocks are to be intersected with blocks of land to be purchased for cash to enable men with families to take a'greater quan- , tity than 200 aores. They did not propose to raise the price of land all over tlie province, but would perhaps raise the price of .the best agricultural land to 40s per- acre. It was proposed to dispose of as much land as possible under deferred payments, and to declare several new Hundreds.—The half-yearly report of the National Insurance Company is just published. After deduction, of various charges £17,236 Is 8d is left to the credit of profit and loss. The directors have recommended a dividend of 10 per cent, per annum, which will leave' about £2,600 balance to be carried to reserve fund. .v ,

THAMES BOEOUGH COUNUIL. - The weekly meeting of the members of the Borough Council was held at the Government Buildings, Grghamstown, last evening. Present—The Mayor, Messrs Xennan, Ehre'nfried, • Butt,, Renshaw, Anthony, Wilson, Dr. Eilgour. ' ;

Minutes.—The minutes of the previous meeting were readand confirmed.' :Woeks of;Emergency.—^The.Mayor said'it wa's a matter of daily occurrence that requests were made to do something in the streets, wiiich was wanted done at once: He thought that power should be given to some .one to give leave to have trifling -works , done,.so that .they should not have to wait for a meeting of the Council. He meant such things as opening a footpath to lay down a gas or a water-pipe.—After some conversation, Dr. Eilgour moved.that.,the,Mayor hav« power to grant leave lii cases of emergency.—Mr Eennan seconded the motion, which was agreed to. ' '

The Councili Buildings.—The Mayor said that he found that there were several panes of glass out of the Crown Hotel building, and some of the locks out of order. He had written to, Mr Thomas to 1 do it,' but he refused.—Mr Butt moved that the Mayor and Mr Anthony be empowered to get the building 'put in order.-The motion was agreed to. •

Night Watchman.—A letter win read ; from George Jeans applying for the situation of night watchman in Graham's-' town.—Consideration was,deferred. Footpath in Poi&mrai.~ '& letter was : read: from Dr.:Lethbridge and others, asking that-the footpath of, the' west 'side of Pollen-street should, be formed from Mary-street to the. Earaka Creek.—Some conversation took place on'the advisability of appointing a. works committee -to-report : upon: such ■ requests as the above.—On the motion of Mr .Renshaw, it was agreed that a committee be appointed for two months, to 'consist' of'-the' 'Mayori 'Messrs. Biitt.add Anthony, and tbat one of the committee, not the Mayor, retire each month,. ;i 'it Animals Straying at Tababu.-A letter was read from Mr E. L. Millett, .Tararu, complaining of the pigs, cows, and goats, allowed ; to go at large at Tararu. The letter stated that people who did not keep animals had. frequently tO;i Bally, 'Out., to drive: animals away, 'at' a loss of time and temper, and at the . risk /.of:, a. ■ (.blackguarding from, the'owners.—Mr Butt thought the letter was not Couched in proper terms.—lt was agreed that the letter be received.

Eepoet 'on Wobks.—A report was read' from,Tho'maS Rawdori, 1 foreman of works, drawing attention to several alterations required on the. drains, 1 -and. suggesting, that a, hand-cart be procured for the use of rubbish.'-'' fete alab made a ! statement as' to the metal in 1 the pbssessioir of the Board for the repair, of,roads. -Qn the motion of Mr, Kennati the report was referred to the Works Committee.

;op! MnNidiwiiiY' QokkiT. tee.—A report was read from the 'committee • appointed ito examine into ? the accounts of the late Municipality Committee which recommended , that [ the , Council pay the liabilities of the committee amounting to £45 15s lOd.—On the motion of Mr Butt, the report was adopted.' By-Laws and Regulations.—A report was read from a committee- appointed with respect to by-laws and regulations. The committee reported in favour of adopting a portion'of the code appended to the Corporations Act. The' report was adopted, and Dr. Kilgour'gave notice that he would move the adoption of the by-laws and regulations stated. It was agreed to give the necessary notice by advertisement. , < 5 .. The Borough Seal.—i report was read from the committee appointed to examine the designs for a seal for the Borough. The report stated that the committee had selected three designs to be submitted to the Council.— The Mayor stated that' another design had been put in since last meeting, which did not claim tbe prize of £5. If it were adopted the prize would have to be awarded to ;another.T-The Councillors then proceeded to'examiiie the different' designs.—Mr Anthony proposed that Mr Pulleine's design be adopted, as the one entitled : to : the, : prize.—Mr Kennau seconded the motion, remarking that he did not understand that that was the one to be adopted for the seal.—The motion was agreed to.-Mr'Kerinan moved that the last design received, signed by,Mr Slator, be adopted, as the seal of the Borough, with a trifling alteration. The motto. was,.. ".The. more we are crushed, the more we yield ," but that might be changed, if a better could be suggested.—Mr Butt seconded the motion, with the proviso, that, the motto be done away, with.—Dr. Kilgour moved as. an amendment that Mr Pulleine's design be acceptedi—Mr Anthony seeonded.the amendment. — For the amendment there voted, Dr. Kilgour, Mr Renshaw,. Mr Anthony, Mr Ehrenfried.,. For the motion there voted, Messrs Kennan, Butt, and Wilson.—The Mayor therefore declared Mr Pulleine's design to be adopted as the seal of the Council.—lt was agreed that the seal be an embossed one, and that arrangements be made to have it engraved as soon as possible.

Boad in Waiotahi. Cbeek. — The Mayor stated!that he had, with the members of the Waiotahi Highway Board, gone up the' Waiotdhi Creek. He believed that if a road were mads up the creek, it would ,be of great service in getting quartz down, ; and'also in-getting coal and firewood'up. •He believed it to be a matter out of the reaoh of the Board or of the Municipal Council, and thought that an appeal should be made to the Provincial Government to make a road. 'About half oftheroadwould.be within the Municipality. It was agreed ttiat the Council should join with the: Waiotahi Highway Board in requesting the Government for a grant to make the road., , , The' Late Finis.—The Mayor' stated that 21 men's' names had been taken down ; for ' paymont ! fori - assisting to workfthe' engine., Three men had also made claims. There were also several accounts for refreshments, from Messrs Bellars, Curtis, and Young.—lt 1 was agreed, on the motion of Mr Herman, to give each man 5s for his services, which would amount to £6. The refreshment accounts amounted to £4 14a, and it was alsd agreed that these should be paid.—On the motion of Mr Benshaw, a hearty, vote of the Council was accorded to the'iire brigades.' Accounts.—A number of accounts was passed "for payment. One account of £13 6s for providing and binding nine copies of the Municipal Corporations Act and Amendment Acts, was left over,; and also another for binding an account book.

Council and the Highway Boabds. —In. reference to the accounts, between the Kauwaoranga and the Highway Board, it was stated that the committee of the Board declineil to sign, unless the' tools be given up to. the Board,—lt'was agreed to give up the topis, '

, Fibe , Inspeotobs and Fire Brigades;— The Mayor said it was necessary that they should suggest two gentlemen to be fire inspectors. Mr Bullen and himself had been appoiufced 1 formerly, but these appointments had now ceased.—-Mr Butt said; they could not have a better than Mr Bullen, and he, thought he should be' appointed for one—On the motion of Mr -Elirenffied, Mr Bullen was appointed, and a committee was appointed to recommend another, and also to report upon the'best method of managing the Five .Brigade.—Mr fienshaw suggested that' the' committee should' confer with the members of the Fire Brigades, and the committee which had been, appointed in ;Shortland and Grahamstown to aid the brigades,—This was' also; agreed to. The Cemetery. —Mr Khrenfried moved that Mr Benshaw, Mr Anthony, Mr Butt, and the mover, be appointed to endeavour..to obtain all information as to a title to the cemetery.—The motion was agreed to. . , Notice of motion had been given by Mr', Keniiari for an application to construct, a, tramway from the Bright Smile mine, to the battery, and also', a flume on trestles.—Mr Jlennsn ,asked leave to withdraw the. first part of the motion relative to the tramway.—Mr Butt called attention to the clause which prevented any Councillor from taking any part in >a matter in which he was interestecl!—The clause having been read, Mr Butt then gave notice of the motion in his own name, with the withdrawal of the .part'relative to the tramway. „ Beime oveb'Hape Cbbek.—Mr Butt moved the motion of which he had given notice relative to the erection of a bridge over the Hape Creek-'with the first money "they could obtain! Mr Butt pointed out the importance of the bridge, and tho bad condition of the present : structure. He believed the Parawai Board would be at half the expense of a ' new bridge. —The. Mayor said that if the bridge could be repaired to stand the winter; th'ey might : then 'bo in a position to do something.—lt was agreed/to remit-th'e subject to the Works Committee to report.

Native Duty.—Mr Butt moved " That in the opinion of this Council the restrictions ori'the Native Lands Act should be abolished."—Mr Butt pointed out the burden thrown upon those who had to ;pay the annual duty upon .lease* from natives. Mr Butt read the clause showing the,, heavy: burden imposed upon a great portion of the borough. He would propose that the motion should be passed, and that a committee should be appointed to get . resolutions proposed to the House to • have the burden repealed, and that" it should be made restrospeetive. .The duty had not been pressed, but it prevented sales of land, as when a sale took place, the amount in arrear had been paid.—The motion wa3 agreed to, and Dr. Kilgour, Mr Wilson, and Mr Butt appointed a committee to draw up a petition on the subject. ''/ ' Notice of Motion. — Mr (Renshaw 'gave notice of. motion.—" That a com* mittee be appointed to ascertain the best means to obtain for this Council powers to lay down tramways, build trestles, &c., for goldfield purposes within the Borough,"

The Council adjourned shortly after ten o'clock.